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Holandric
Holandric means pertaining to genes located on the Y
chromosome. Genes are units of material contained in a
person's cells that contain coded instructions as for how certain
bodily characteristics (such as eye color) will develop. All of a
person's genes come from his/her parents. Genes are
contained in structures called chromosomes. Each person has
23 pairs of chromosomes, meaning that there are 46
chromosomes in total. One of each pair of chromosomes is
inherited from the mother and one of each pair is inherited from
the father. The first 22 pairs of chromosomes (known as
autosomes) are not involved in determining sex. The 23rd pair
of chromosomes, however, is involved in determining gender.
FEATURED BOOK: Genetics: A Conceptual Approach
The 23rd pair of chromosomes consist of X and/or Y chromosomes. An X chromosome
is shaped like and X, whereas a Y chromosome is shaped like a Y. If a person has two X
chromosomes, the person will develop as a female. If a person has an X and a Y
chromosome, the person will develop as a male.
Holandric comes from the Greek word "holos" meaning "entire," the Greek word "anter"
meaning "human male," and the Greek word "ikos" meaning "pertaining to."
Put the words together and you get "pertaining to entire male."
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